88R9131 MAW-F
 
  By: West S.B. No. 1147
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to vocational training for and the occupational licensing
  of inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 501.027, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 501.027.  ACCESS TO PROGRAMS BY FEMALE
  INMATES.  (a)  The department shall develop and implement policies
  that increase and promote a female inmate's access to programs
  offered to inmates in the custody of the department, including
  educational, [vocational,] substance use treatment,
  rehabilitation, life skills training, and prerelease programs and
  vocational programs providing education and training designed to
  ensure successful employment following the inmate's release.  The
  department may not reduce or limit a male inmate's access to a
  program to meet the requirements of this section.
         (b)  Not later than December 31 of each year, the department
  shall:
               (1)  prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant
  governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, each
  standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction
  over the department, and the reentry task force described by
  Section 501.098 a written report that includes:
                     (A)  a description of any department policies that
  were created, modified, or eliminated during the preceding year to
  meet the requirements of this section; [and]
                     (B)  a list of:
                           (i)  all programs available to female
  inmates in the custody of the department during the preceding year;
  and
                           (ii)  vocational programs made available to
  female inmates in the custody of the department during the
  preceding year; and
                     (C)  a description of any issue identified by the
  department that prevents the department from making more vocational
  programs available to female inmates in the custody of the
  department; and
               (2)  publish the report on the department's Internet
  website.
         SECTION 2.  Section 53.021, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  Subsection (b) does not prohibit a licensing
  authority from accepting an application from an inmate imprisoned
  in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall develop
  and implement the policies necessary to implement Section 501.027,
  Government Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.